Bar HUMBUG, Newcastle

One of downtown Newcastle's most popular restaurants is HUMBUG. This restaurant located on Hunter street in Newcastle is owned by local couple Mike Portley and Stephanie Wells - she takes care of the wine and drinks and he the food. Take a look at what is on the menu and what is a must order!

I'm excited to be back in Newcastle and this year I'm an ambassador for April's Newcastle Food Month! I'll be busy eating my way through the program so that I can show you the best of Newcastle. HUMBUG restaurant has its wide front windows flung open as its a gorgeous late summer evening and the vibe is like a friend's house (if your friend was a neat grown up that likes art). Head Chef and owner Mike Portley describes HUMBUG as a modern pasta bar serving food that pairs well with interesting Italian varietals. But that is almost doing a disservice to the rest of the menu, which is really its strength. Mike's Sous Chef is Korean chef Jungwoo Lee and he has influenced the menu with Korean flavours.

Start with the mushroom dumplings made with a shiitake and field mushroom filling and covered with a buttery shiitake XO sauce. These delicious little morsels are one of their signature dishes and also feature on the vegan menu.

The crispy pork belly ssam is another must order and my favourite item of the night along with the tomato salad below. Soft lettuce cups are filled with a thick, soft slice of lusciously glazed, pork belly with chilli, peanut, coriander and tiny pieces of crunchy pork crackling. It's salty, sweet, intense and crunchy in every bite and I instantly want another.

How does that saying go that you should never fill up on bread but they in our defense, the 2 day fermented focaccia made with white and wholemeal flours is so light and fluffy that it feels otherworldly. They use a three year old starter that has been going since the beginning of this restaurant. We spread some of that buttercream textured cultured butter on top.

I had heard a lot about the tomato salad here at HUMBUG and how it was one of the best tomato salads this season. Their version is made up of sliced tomatoes and peaches from Newcastlegreens growers with a garlicky eschallot, shiso and aged balsamic dressing on a bed of whipped ricotta. This is divine and the only issue? It is coming to the end of tomato season!

The last time I came to HUMBUG I thought the pastas were unique but didn’t quite hit the flavour mark for me but this time they are both unique and delicious. The house made bucatini with scallops had a miso, dried scallop, dashi and sake butter with plenty of chopped chives on top. The pasta is perfectly cooked and the silky scallops pair well with that silky sauce.

The lasagne is a rich little perfect square made with a pork and veal ragu (using meat from the Hungerford Meat Co), fior de latte, chicken liver heart and bechamel. It is rich, delicious and intensely flavoured.

We also try the fried broccoli with a moreish kimchi dressing. Like the pork cups it is sweet and salty but has a late sour kick from the kim chi at the end of each bite.

And to finish don’t sleep on the ethereally light warm buttermilk donut with Garnet plum jelly and creme fraiche. Like the bread, they have the lightest touch to them that it feels almost cloud-like biting into them.

So tell me Dear Reader, are you the more food or drink person in your relationship?

And for Newcastle Food Month, Humbug will be holding a Street Food Fiesta on Monday the 14th of April from 3-9pm. Tickets are $25 and includes live music and a glass of First Creek Sparkling on arrival. Street food is available for purchase on the night.

HUMBUG

87-89 Hunter St, Newcastle NSW 2300

Wednesday and Thursday 5:30–9 pm

Friday and Saturday 12–2:30 pm, 5:30–10 pm

Sunday to Tuesday Closed Phone: (02) 4044 4803